EPA honors Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park as Federal Green Challenge winner

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park recently was received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Federal Green Challenge Regional Overall Achievement award.

The recognition is part of the EPA's initiative to urge federal departments to put sustainable practices into play in an effort to minimize their environmental footprints.

“We applaud National Park Service staff for leading the way toward zero waste and educating the millions of visitors to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park,” Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest, said. “This unique landscape deserves protection, and that starts with the commitment by the federal employees who work there.”

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is on Hawai‘i Island, nearly 2,500 miles from the nearest continental land mass. The park includes the summit of Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet and goes down to sea level. Inside the park are two of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Each year, more than 1.6 million people visit the unique park.

“We are extremely honored to receive this level of recognition for our climate-friendly efforts,” Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said. “Our staff is dedicated to implementing environmentally responsible practices, and we encourage our visitors and park partners to do the same."  

Park employees participate in programs throughout the year to promote the park's dedication to sustainability. They also are committed to decreasing the park's environmental footprint in the six Federal Green Challenge target areas: energy, water, waste, electronics, purchasing and transportation.

For more information on the Federal Green Challenge, visit www.epa.gov/fgc. More information about Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park can be found online at www.nps.gov/havo.